I met up for lunch on Monday with Terri Parsons from the Mayhem & Magic blog. Our meal at the 21^st Amendment restaurant was quite pleasant. I had hummus with pita triangles and a cucumber salad and shared a veggie panini with my daughter. The place got very crowded and is a block or two behind the Air & Space museum. It was really nice of Terri to get off work to meet me. We had a delightful chat, talking about our favorite books and movies and the mystery genre.

Tuesday found us visiting Hillwood Museum & Gardens, the grand estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post of cereal fame. We strolled the extensive gardens, gaped at the treasures inside her mansion, and dined outside at the café. This was another great meal in a garden setting. I had shrimp salad flavored with a touch of curry. While the Faberge eggs and multitudes of china place settings and regal portraits inside the mansion drew our attention, I was most fascinated by the fitted master closets, the dressing rooms, the pantry and kitchen. It must have been nice to be cosseted by servants while prepping for the numerous parties the lady attended.

We ate dinner that night at a Thai restaurant, Ben Jarong, in Rockville. I had a tasty dish of chicken sauteed with ginger, Chinese mushrooms, and onions. Then we visited with our relatives before retiring.

Wednesday, we headed back downtown via the Metro, not letting the accident faze us. We arrived at Metro Central without incident and proceeded down G Street toward 15^th. There we turned toward the Mall, past the impressively massive building housing the Dept of the Treasury.

Just past Pennsylvania Avenue, we turned onto a path via which you’re allowed to view the White House. We took photos and stared at the home of our Commander-in-Chief. What a different life the First Family must have, surrounded by layers of security. Substantially awed, we marched along to the Smithsonian Museum of American History and spent a couple of hours viewing the history of transportation with models of trains, old cars, buggies, and such. I liked Julia Child’s kitchen that was on display. We breezed through sections on electricity and machinery, musical instruments and entertainment icons like Dorothy’s red shoes from The Wizard of Oz.

A break for lunch brought us to the Old Ebbitt Grill, now owned by Clyde’s. Fascinating place to people-watch. Lots of somber men in suits and women in business attire. Located nearly across from the Dept of the Treasury and near the White House, it probably has seated hundreds of government officials over the ages. There’s even a private room downstairs labeled the Cabinet Room. The setting is most elegant with white clothed tables, fresh flowers, a polished wood bar at one end, flickering lamps on tall posts, deer heads (with antlers?) mounted on the walls, and ornate beer mugs displayed on a high shelf over the bar. My husband had crab cakes, while I sampled New England clam chowder and a strawberry salad with spinach, goat cheese, and walnuts. No doubt I am gaining weight but we are compensating with lots of walking exercise. I’ll miss that when we go home.

Dinner was average fare at the Hollywood Diner in Rockville. Coming up: A shopping expedition to Tyson’s Corner and a trip to Georgetown where I’m going to meet a surprise guest. Will tell you more next time.